在产蛋鸡生产中,无笼住房正在迅速发展,以提供满足母鸡需求的生活条件。不像笼子,这个外壳需要巢来自动收集鸡蛋,因为在巢外产卵必须用手收集。选择母鸡的巢相关性状,例如产卵和筑巢行为,可以帮助满足无笼住房的要求。然而,这些性状与育种计划的主要性状之间的遗传相关性,例如鸡蛋质量或BW,鲜为人知。此外,在无笼条件下很少研究主要性状的遗传决定论。本研究的目的是估计在地板上测量的卵质量和BW的遗传力及其与巢相关性状的遗传相关性。巢中的产蛋率是基于巢中的产蛋率,铺设节奏(离合器数和平均产卵时间),和巢穴接受。筑巢行为基于巢偏好(用于铺设的巢之间的平均距离)和平均铺设持续时间(在巢中铺设的时间)。从24至64周龄记录与巢相关的性状。在50和55周龄时测量BW和鸡蛋质量,分别。使用由成群饲养的母鸡和地板上饲养的母鸡使用的单个电子巢,获得了与巢相关的性状和每只母鸡产下的卵的鉴定(用于单独测量卵质量)。分析了1.455罗得岛红和1.538白来霍恩母鸡的表型。使用每个品系的多性状动物模型估计遗传力系数和遗传相关性。两个品系的蛋质量和BW的遗传力估计均为中高(0.17-0.74)。总的来说,估计了两个品系的巢相关性状与卵质量或BW之间的弱遗传相关性。然而,在蛋壳强度与产蛋率(-0.46至-0.42)或产蛋节奏(0.46至0.68)之间,估计了强烈的拮抗遗传相关性。在与巢相关的性状和卵重之间,发现了白来霍恩的几种中度到强烈的遗传相关性,蛋壳形状,蛋白高度,和BW。这项研究表明,与巢相关的性状可用于选择更适合无笼饲养的母鸡,而不会降低整体蛋品质和BW。它还显示了一些特征,像蛋壳的强度,必须仔细监测,如果这些新的性状包括在育种目标。这些结果现在必须在其他人群和更大的数据集上得到证实。
In laying hen production, cage-free housing is growing rapidly to provide living conditions that meet hens\' needs. Unlike cages, this housing requires nests for automatic collection of eggs, as eggs laid outside nests must be collected by hand. Selecting hens for nest-related traits, such as egg production in nests and nesting behaviour, could help meet the requirements of cage-free housing. However, genetic correlations between these traits and major traits of breeding programmes, such as egg quality or BW, are poorly known. In addition, the genetic determinism of major traits has rarely been studied under cage-free conditions. The objective of the present study was to estimate the heritability of egg quality and BW measured on the floor and their genetic correlations with nest-related traits. Egg production in nests was based on the laying rate in nests, laying rhythm (clutch number and mean oviposition time), and nest acceptance. Nesting behaviour was based on nest preference (mean distance between nests used for laying) and mean laying duration (time spent in the nest for laying). Nest-related traits were recorded from 24 to 64 weeks of age. BW and egg quality were measured at 50 and 55 weeks of age, respectively. Nest-related traits and identification of the eggs laid by each hen (for individual measurements of egg quality) were obtained using individual electronic nests used by hens raised in groups and on the floor. The phenotypes of 1 455 Rhode Island Red and 1 538 White Leghorn hens were analysed. Heritability coefficients and genetic correlations were estimated using a multi-trait animal model for each line. Heritability estimates for egg quality and BW were moderate to high for both lines (0.17-0.74). Overall, weak genetic correlations were estimated between nest-related traits and egg quality or BW for both lines. However, strong and antagonistic genetic correlations were estimated between eggshell strength and laying rate in the nests (-0.46 to -0.42) or laying rhythm (+0.46 to +0.68) for both lines. Several moderate-to-strong genetic correlations were found for White Leghorn between nest-related traits and egg weight, eggshell shape, albumen height, and BW. This study shows that nest-related traits can be used to select hens better adapted to cage-free housing without degrading overall egg quality and BW. It also shows that some traits, like the eggshell strength, must be carefully monitored if these new traits are included in breeding goals. These results must now be confirmed for other populations and larger datasets.